Tag Archives: winter

Once upon a time there was an angel called Frida (face from Stampotique).She was wearing a crown of lit candles on her head, a tradition from Sweden. St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13th. St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, killed for her faith, in 304AD. The most common story told about St. Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city. She would wear candles on her head so she had both her hands free to carry things. Lucy means ‘light’ so this is a very appropriate name (further Christmas traditions from around the world can be discovered here). More CANDLES can be seen over the next two weeks at the Wednesday Stamper challenge.

For this year’s Christmas Tree Frida brought a long tin ornaments from her own country Mexico, handfelted ornaments from Kyrgyzstan – view them all here), handpainted wooden and handmade textile ornaments from India and crocheted ornaments from the Netherlands. From India, some Gods also mingled within: Vishnu protect mankind and Gods, Lakshmi, goddess of beauty and good luck and Ganesh, god of wisdom and intelligence and brings good luck.

Snowflakes are all round us these days! This year I am having a Folk ArtChristmas Tree with handmade ornaments from different countries, including Mexico. I upcycled some ribbon rolls and turned them into snowflake ornaments using Frida stamps (Stampotique and Invoke Arts), snowflakes (from Lena, don’t know which brand) cut up and glued around. Glimmer Mist adds the perfect shimmering colourlicious look! Snowflakes are the new WS challenge. It also fits the SDC challenge 21 – die cuts and punches.

It’s wooly hat season and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw these cute birdies wearing pointy wooly hats at CASA. Had to buy some and they are now my Winter 2010/11 mascot. Made a journal page for the current WS challenge “pointy hats”. Legs are from Stampotique’s Dweeze.

A journal spread with images form The Octopode Factory for the new WS challenge “them LEGS“. Couldn’t resist using my new snowflake stamps bought last week at KreativWelt, and the new color Jack Frost from Glimmer Mist is so cool. Blends perfectly with Turquoise-Blue. I love snow which is why I used Lily’s new Elf Mobile Driver and the Sugar Plum Fairy who is having a Pink day.

Meet Lily Chilvers

Please meet Lily Chilvers, the creative young woman behind The Octopode Factory. I was so surprised to find out that she is only 17 years old and still goes to school. Just love her Chibi-DrSuess-Burton-Zettiology-Penny-Torrente fusion. Thanks also toAudreyfor letting me show some of her related artwork. Her proud mum is Mandy. Britain’s got talent! 🙂

art by Lily

Where do you live? I live in Derby, England.

When did you start drawing? I started when I was about 12 years old.

art by Lily

How did your images evolve? I started by drawing Manga and Chibi characters, mostly copying from books and off the internet. When I started drawing my own characters, they gradually developed into my own style – long legs, no hands, round eyes etc….

What inspires you? I’m inspired by anything really. Most of the stuff kind of pops up in my head. I like a lot of films and stories which I get most of my inspiration off. My friends and family are big inspirations too, my sister’s a big part of my inspiration as I spend most of my time with her.

art by Audrey

What does your family think about your talent? My family is very supportive. My mum is great, she’s helping me a lot with the ‘business’ side– I’m pretty useless.

Tell us more about your book Lilyland: I started it about my original characters who live in Lilyland. It’s a novel and i’m trying to get it published so I don’t want to say too much! But yes I do like to write, probably just as much as drawing–but drawing isn’t as hard to get out there and published!

art by Audrey

Favourite film: I really like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pretty in Pink and every Disney film ever made!

Favourite costume/dress-up: I don’t really dress up in costumes- for Halloween I try to go as ‘scary’ creatures. Mostly I use dressing up clothes and accessories with my everyday clothes, I like the quirkiness of it!

Favourite book: I read a lot of non-fiction about music and art. I like poetry too but fiction wise I don’t really have a favourite.

What do you want to do later in your life? I want to be a successful writer and full-time artist. I want to get my work out there for everyone to see! I can’t see myself doing anything else.

art by Lily

Favourite hobbies: I like to listen to music and watch films. I’m quite interested in wildlife and animals too, which sounds sad for a 17 year old to say but it’s true.

You also desing tattoos, do you have one yourself? No, I don’t. In England you can’t have one until you are 18- and I’m way too indecisive, I wouldn’t be able to decide on an image and stick with it!

Favourite music: I like all kinds of music. My favourite band is probably The Smiths or The Sex Pistols… a wide variety of stuff!

Favourite drink: Tea, probably a cliché English thing but it is amazing.

Favourite food: Toasties, the greatest invention after Tea.

Hope you enjoyed meeting this beautiful young woman with tons of talent! She also makes custom design images including tattoos. Good luck for your future. She told me that 2 more Christmas images are on the way and soon some of her images will be available at Stampotique, Creavil as of November 17 and other places. We better stay tuned for more.

I couldn’t resist these cute “Winter Dolls” from Hero Arts, my contribution for the current WS Open Theme. Super cute, right? Wishing all blog visitors a Happy Christmas season and lots of creative time for 2010!

With all this rain here in Luxembourg I’m getting ready for real Winter and some snow. Time to finish a journal spread for the WS Winter challenge. For now it’s just in my art journal, but who knows… it might start snowing some time soon!! *sigh* Still on a Stampotique roll, having too much fun with them guys.